February 14, 2008 10:14 PM
Beckham could miss opener vs. Rapids
Soccer By Ives is reporting that England manager Fabio Capello is considering David Beckham for the roster that will face France at the end of March.
Good news, right? Becks would get his 100th appearance for his nation. That's great, right?
Well, consider that the match against France is scheduled for March 26, and the Rapids' home opener is against the Galaxy on March 29.
It could mean a second consecutive season that Beckham does not play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Whether it was a strained right knee or fatigue or mismanagement by the Galaxy, Beckham missed last year's August date at Dick's Sporting Goods Park after a brutal schedule that included an England date and a fixture at the Home Depot Center in the same week that L.A. came to Colorado.
Now he may miss the one game the Galaxy has in Colorado in 2008.
Because of the addition of the expansion San Jose Earthquakes to MLS, the league has changed the way it crafts its schedule. I wrote about that recently, and I labeled that post "Beckham to visit Colorado only once in 2008." Now even one appearance would look good. Read that entry here.
Thanks to Mike DeCicco of the Contra Costa Times for giving FC Rocky the head's-up about this one.
February 15, 2008
7:38 AM
Bonji writes:
Hopefully the Rapids won't sell this game as a Beckham game knowing that there is a strong chance he won't play. We'll see.
February 15, 2008
9:21 AM
CO_Soccer_Fan writes:
I hope he still gets to play since the game is on national TV.
For personal reasons, I would like to see the man play in person at least once in my lifetime without having to go to LA. :)
George - What's your take on the Rapids this season? I was hoping for more player moves this off-season so I'm curious to know your thoughts.
February 15, 2008
12:37 PM
Carlo writes:
I think rapids & american soccer fans could be quiet, because if I know Capello, he will not call Beckham for the match with France.
Capello is an iron man, and if Beckham is out from his projet, he will not call him only for a celebrative situation.
The point is another: american fans think really beckham is (or was, it's the same) a real champion? Beckham in my opinion has got a incredible right foot, but no more. The real champions of the last 15 years are other... I think Zidane, Ronaldo (good luck Ronie),Figo, Rui Costa,Vieri, Zanetti, Del Piero... But not Beckham!
February 15, 2008
1:34 PM
Mike writes:
Carlo... what's your problem with American soccer fans? I mean, I'm not sure if you've noticed but the man is celebrity/icon on every single continent, in every single country on the planet. So it's not like we're the only ones that think he's the bee's knees. And who said he was some great champion along the lines of Zidane, etc.? I know you think we're all idiots, but we Americans know the difference between a famous player and the best player.
February 15, 2008
1:59 PM
CO_Soccer_Fan writes:
Mike... I couldn't agree more. Amen brother!
REPLY FROM GEORGE
i have a good friend who lives in Fife, Scotland, and he wonders the same thing: why do american fans go ga-aga over beckham? my answer to him was nearly the same as mike's. it would not be a stretch to say that beckham is the most famous athlete on the planet. he may be the most famous person on the planet at the moment. so people do want to see him, and many americans just want to see what the fuss is all about.
as a soccer fan, i'm really looking forward to gallardo's visit to dick's sporting goods park with d.c. united.
however, i want to see beckham, too. it was fun getting to see him make an appearance last year at the all-star game, but it wasn't enough. i want to see the home team line up against becks and take it to him!
February 16, 2008
6:12 AM
Carlo writes:
I don't think american fans are idiot, but they have got a physiological distoced wiew of world soccer. If media says that "beckham, one of the most importan football champ" plays in MSL, obviously the most part of fans think so.
Make a comparison beetween Becks and Gallardo: Gallardo is very technical gifted, was the most rapresentative player of River Plate, one of the most important South American team, but his coming in MSL was not so talked.
Beckham is a good player? yes, but not one of the best in my opion.
Beckham has a mediatic sovrexposion? Sure.
I, like scottish george friend, don't know why there is a beckham mania, that's all.
February 17, 2008
3:51 PM
Carlo writes:
In manchester he won so many title, but less then people like ryan giggs, and why giggs, in my opinion more skilled, is not so famous? it's marketing.
in FIFA world player he arrive 2time second, but 1) this prize has only 3 nomination, selected by fifa, not coach or capitan (and he overwhere never won)
2) the individual prize in football are not so important
3) the most important individual prize is not fifa world player, but the France Football's Ballon d'Or.
Vieira: eurochamp, worldchamp, he won in premier and in Serie A, Zanetti: is 34 but is already playing in Serie A where is the capitain of the stronges team, cap leader of the "Seleccion".
Alex: world champ, he won evrithing with Juve, and if you want refresh your memory watch his last goal against AS Roma.
In madrid beckham was only a comparison, the last liga was won thanks to Capello, van nisterlooy and casillas (and barca harakiri).
99 cap with england, ok. what does he won with the 3lions? they don't go not even to euro2008...
I repeat: beckham is surely a good player, not the best of the last 15 year, but in america is treath like a soccer god!
is an important figure (one of many), but is disproportionate.
PS tuesday and Wednesday, is back the champions league
February 18, 2008
9:01 AM
Mike writes:
Who said he was one of the top 15 last year? you keep changing the arguement because you're so darned set on proving Beckham isn't good that you ignore all the evidence that he is and change your stance from post to post.
and again, you have to take a shot at America and how he's treated here. He's not treated any differently here than he was in England and Spain. He would be treated just the same if he had signed in Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, Nigeria or whatever country you're from.
honestly ... could you be more jealous of the man?
REPLY FROM GEORGE
cool down, fellas! i agree with mike on this issue. when the galaxy went to australia and new zealand a few months ago, those rugby-happy folks turned out in droves to watch beckham bend it like himself. he's a phenomenon anywhere he goes, and the galaxy was smart enough to sign him. it was a good move for the team and for mls.